Improvement in fire-proof buildings



INITED STATES PATENT GEEIOE.

GEORGE H. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WM. J. FBYER, JR., OF SALU] PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,351, dated September 30, 1873 application filed July 14, 1873.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. JOHNSON, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in the Construction of Fire-Proof Floors, Ceilings, Walls, Partitions, and Roofs 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents au isometrical view in section of a floor and ceiling constructed after my plan, and supported by wrought -iron beams. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of my iloor and ceiling constructed on the same principle, but in a different form.

I will describe all that is necessary to a full understanding of my invention, and then clearly point it out in theclaim.

The great aim of myself and other engineers in constructing floors and ceilings fire-proof, has been to devise some method in order to refoundations, (unavoidable when the old and unsightly brick arch and concrete filling on top are used,) and to produce a level ceiling, in order to save. the furring down with iron lath, .which is very costly and heavy. This I have accomplished in my former inventions, for which patents were issued, but not so perfect, strong, light, and cheap, as the method I now claim and describe.

I form my floors and ceilings with a series of hollow cylinders, A A, made of nre-clay, burnt, (or other incombustible material,) which I hold in rigid position with double and single concave binders or clamps B B O O, arranged so as to break joints. The interstices between the cylinders'and binders are iilled up with a liquid cement, thus forming, between the iron beams E E, and resting thereon, a perfect hollow slab of great strength and lightness, only weighing ,one-quarter the weight of a solid brick arch and concrete filling, and one-third lighter than the hollow tiles used in my previous invention, and much cheaper and stronger, for the reason that all parts are of equal thickness; and, being cylindrical, I avoid tensile strain on the material, and throw the whole weight on the compressive strength of the hollow cylinders, which form perfect. :arches in themselves, every inch being equal in strength to resist the pressure brought to bear thereon.

This construction provides a iiat level ceiling, and floor above, with the additional advantage (not before achieved) of producing a corrugated ceiling, D D, to form a perfect key for the plastering and hard finish. v e

The binders O O, resting on the iron beams E E, are formed to fit the upper and lower flanges, and made concave on the other side,

to receive the first cylinder.

In Fig. 2 another form is represented, which shows that with the use of the binders I am able to use various other shapes of hollow tubes 5 but I prefer the cylindrical form, as being the lightest and cheapest.

For partitions, &c., I use the same shaped series of hollow cylinders and concave binders, arranged so as to break joints, the corrugated sides forming a perfect key for the plastering and finishing coats.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

- The combination of a series of hollow cylin ders, A A, made of iire-clay or other non-combustible material, and held in position and supported by the double and single concave binders o'r clamps B B C C, made of the same material, all as shown and described, for the purposes specified.

t GEO. II. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

WM. W. YOUNG, HARDEsTY DE S. JOHNSON. 

